Records for the Fry-Ferentz Era at Iowa

[ChosenChildren]

Another season has come and gone. I was there every season starting in 1961, and then as a young man I saw an intense coach in 1979 at the age of 47 take over the Iowa program. His name was Hayden Fry, and no one knew much about him, except for a wise old owl named Bump Elliott. Iowa was the worst team in the Big Ten at that time, and it wasn't even close. A coaching graveyard!

Hayden built a winner and hired wonderful young coaches, including Bill Snyder, Dan McCarney, Barry Alvaraz, and the great Kirk Ferentz. Here is a summary:

1.Winning percentage at Iowa from 1961 through 1978: 34%. Zero bowls, zero winning seasons, zero championships.
2. Record from 1979 through 2025 inclusive (47 seasons): 355-215-6 (62% winning percentage).
3. Record in the Big Ten: 230-152-6 (60% winning percentage).
4. Record against Minnesota: 32-15
5. Record against Iowa State: 30-16
6. Record against Wisconsin: 28-14-1
7. Record against Nebraska: 11-8
8. Combined record against our 4 rivals: 101-53-1 (65% winning percentage)! Iowa had lopsided deficits against Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska before 1979
9. Big Ten titles: 5
10. Big Ten West titles: 3
11. Rose Bowls: 4
12. Orange Bowls: 2
13. Overall bowl record: 16-18-1

I hope it continues.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Great stats

 

[ssckelley]

Back in the day Fry was all about getting Iowa to bowl games. Now the question becomes how often will Iowa be a playoff team? I think that's going to be the new bar going forward.

 

[ChosenChildren]

Back in the day Fry was all about getting Iowa to bowl games. Now the question becomes how often will Iowa be a playoff team? I think that's going to be the new bar going forward.

That is really the question, isn't it? Back when Hayden was coaching, there were about 12 bowls, and 24 bids, give or take.

The problem with the current playoff system is that there are only 12 openings, but really 9 when you consider that a bid must be given to the group of 5 (what a joke), the champion of the crappy ACC, and a bid every year to Notre Dame because of their cupcake schedule and political power.

If the field is expanded to 16 teams and the Big Ten is guaranteed FOUR bids (in an 18 team league), the Big Ten would have a one game playoff featuring the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place teams. Iowa would have made the one game play in this year, finishing 6th.

They need to expand it to 16.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

That is really the question, isn't it? Back when Hayden was coaching, there were about 12 bowls, and 24 bids, give or take.

The problem with the current playoff system is that there are only 12 openings, but really 9 when you consider that a bid must be given to the group of 5 (what a joke), the champion of the crappy ACC, and a bid every year to Notre Dame because of their cupcake schedule and political power.

If the field is expanded to 16 teams and the Big Ten is guaranteed FOUR bids (in an 18 team league), the Big Ten would have a one game playoff featuring the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place teams. Iowa would have made the one game play in this year, finishing 6th.

They need to expand it to 16.

I'm good with 12. It just gets watered down. Make it a special season to make the playoffs. No reason to have 5-6 teams from the BIG or SEC get in every year.

 

[kameltoez102]

I'm good with 12. It just gets watered down. Make it a special season to make the playoffs. No reason to have 5-6 teams from the BIG or SEC get in every year.

I mentioned this in another thread but I think it needs to go to 16 and eliminate the first round bye. It still allows the Group of 5 team to get in as well as some other strong candidates. It also allows teams like Boise State last year to host a home playoff game rather than have the first game at a neutral site. It seems goofy to me that the top 4 teams doesn't get to host a game and reward the fans and school with the added revenue and exposure.

 

[ChosenChildren]

I mentioned this in another thread but I think it needs to go to 16 and eliminate the first round bye. It still allows the Group of 5 team to get in as well as some other strong candidates. It also allows teams like Boise State last year to host a home playoff game rather than have the first game at a neutral site. It seems goofy to me that the top 4 teams doesn't get to host a game and reward the fans and school with the added revenue and exposure.

Agree with this. 12 makes no sense at all, other than it was a number bigger than 2 or 4.